Posted by Scott Chaney on June 14, 2003 at 22:09:14:
In Reply to: Re: Fired posted by Bill Adams on June 14, 2003 at 21:46:47:
That's one of the great things about this business.... you go to one stop and the people think you all but walk on water, and the next stop they think you must be some sort of reprobate for charging so much to do such a menial task since you raised your fees five bucks. After all.. it's just nailing some shoes on, right?
You want an ego boost?
Here's one, just for you.
The career you have chosen is one that has mystified the minds of people great and small for eons. You bend your frame low to aid a mammal in its talent for flight. Without you, the horse would suffer a heinous demise.
You do it mostly for love and self satisfaction for you have an appreciation for poetry in motion that transcends cultures, ages, race and time.
People that have no understanding of our strife toward excellence do not deserve our talents.
They are not worthy.
Just smile and say, "thanks".
But do not burn your bridges.
For instance:
I had a client of a nice pleasure horse barn quit me several years ago over my fees. Her owners had had a bug placed in their ears by a farrier covetous of the barn (read "I can do what he can only better and cheaper").
Two years later, after they had gone through three other farriers, she called me back.
Funny... my fees had almost doubled in that short amount of time.... huh... imagine that...
You know what? because I was able to charge them that much, it gave me the confidence to charge everyone else that much as well.
And I didn't lose a single client by doing so.
My only regret is that I wish I had done it years ago....
What goes around comes around....